ketcham



(No Model.)

s. J. KETGHAM.

SERVICE BOX FOR WATER OR GAS PIPES. No. 372,680. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

UNITE TATES ATENT Erica.

SAMUEL J. KETOHAM, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ALONZO R. KETOHAM,OF SAME PLACE.

SERVICE=BOX FOR WATER OR GAS PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,680, dated November8, 1887.

Application filed May 10, 1887. Serial No. 233.723. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knowir that I, SAMUEL J. Knrcuxrr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in ServiceBoxes for \Vateror Gas Pipes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifieation.

My invention relates to that class of service-boxes for water and gaspipes which have hinged covers adapted to be locked in position; andsuch invention consists in a special construction and arrangement ofparts, all of which will be fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section,of the top of the box and its cover in closed position; and Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the cover raised.

Referring to the drawings, (6 represents the top portion of anyservice-box of well-known construction, in this instance it beingcylindrical in form.

Upon one side of the outer surface of the box a, at its upper edge, isthe lug a, to which the cover is to be hinged. Upon the inner surface ofthe box and below its upper edge is a shelf or projection, a, forming aportion of the locking mechanism.

bis the cover, of a greater diameter than the cylindrical box a, andhaving the annular flange 1), extending downwardly.

At one side of the cover Z), and within the annular flange b, is therecess b within which is loosely pivoted the lug a of the box.Diametrically opposite the recess b and upon the inner surface of theannular flange Z), is the boss or enlargement I), the inner face ofwhich rests near or against the outer surface of the box when thecoveris in closed position,as shown in Fig. 1. The central portion ofthe cover b is sunken, forming the re cess b, the floor of which isprovided with the slot c is a catch-plate, cut away upon its undersurface to form the recess 0, and provided upon the lower edge with ahorizontally-extending lip or flange, 0

cl is a screw-threaded bolt having a hexagonal or other head, (1, bymeans of which it can be turned. This bolt passes down through theslot 1) in the cover, and engages with a screw-threaded orifice in thecatch-plate c. After the bolt is placed in position, as described, itslower end, (I is upset to prevent disengagement from the catch-plate.

The catch-plate 0, when in operative position, lies partially within thechannel or recess 1) upon the under surface of cover I).

The operation of the parts just described is as follows: To lock thecover firmly upon the box, the bolt (1 is turned by a suitable key inthe proper direction, and as the catchplate 0 cannot turn in the channelI) it is thus lowered in its bearings the required distance and slidback toward the hinged side of the cover by moving the bolt in the slotb In such extreme position the cover is thrown down, the lip c passingbelow the shelf a of the box. New, by sliding the bolt (Z and itsattached catch-plate to the other end of the slot If the lip 0 passesunder the shelf a", and in such position the bolt (1 is turned in theopposite direction, which serves to raise such catch-plate, causing anupward pressure of the lip 0 against the under surface of the shelf athus firmly locking the cover 6 upon its box a. To obtain access to theinterior of the box the foregoing operation is simply re versed.

It will be seen that the parts forming the locking mechanism of myimproved cover not only possess the requisite strength and 0 durabilityrequired, but are susceptible of easy and rapid manipulation.

I claim- The combination, with the body a of the service-box, providedwith the interior shelf, 5 cf, of the cover I), hinged to the box, suchcover having its central portion recessed and slotted, as shown, thecatch-plate c, with the lip 0, adapted for engagement with the undersurface of the shelf a, and the tightening-bolt d d, in screw-threadedenga ement I with the catch-plate and Working loo sely in SAMUELKETCHAM' WVitnesses:

W. T. MILLER,

OTTO HODDIOK.

to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

5 the slot b of the cover, ail operating snbstantially as shcwnanddescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name

